Why that Argentina defeat is good news for the Irish players on tour

Extra.ie​

24-06-2025

When the Lions' long-haul fight touches down on the tarmac at Perth Airport on Sunday evening, the players are likely to be met with torrential rain.
The weather is biblical on Australia's Western Coast at the moment. After a warm weather training camp on the Algarve followed by a glorious week in Costa del Dublin, the travelling squad are braced for a serious change in conditions.
It will be fitting really. The mood around the camp was significantly gloomy after Friday night's defeat in Dublin. Argentina players celebrate at the final whistle. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Andy Farrell is usually so composed and measured when he speaks to the media. In the six years since Farrell became Ireland head coach, you could count on one hand the amount of occasions he bristled in a post-match press conference.
Farrell could barely hard his irritation with his side's error-strewn, wasteful and surprisingly lethargic performance at a heaving Aviva Stadium. The 'Red Army' had packed out the bars around Ballsbridge and Baggot Street long before the 8pm kick-off and the expectant fanbase were braced for a big farewell display.
Argentina never got the memo. Despite their France-based frontliners, Felipe Contepomi's fired-up side delivered a remarkable performance. Lions head coach Andy Farrell. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Argentina, lest we forget, are fifth in the world rankings and beat the All Blacks, Springboks and Australia years. The Wallabies are currently eighth in the global pecking order. You could argue that the Lions won't face opposition still strong until the Test next month. It will be scant consolation at the moment and Farrell was in no mood for superlatives after the game.
'We need to be better than that,' the head coach bluntly stated. 'We are not sugar-coating anything.'
Farrell would have expected some teething problems on opening night. This playing group has only been together for a fortnight. There were plenty of nerves, too.
The players were treading a fine line between trying to impress and not wanting to suffer a series-ending injury. Were they distracted by the all the hoopla inside the stadium and the fact their flight was the next day? It's now just four weeks until the opening Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Farrell and his backroom team have plenty to time to mull over everything on the long commute to Oz.
No one will be pushing the panic just yet. A lot of the problems which occurred against the Pumas can be ironed out. The Lions won't be as wasteful again. Their defence will improve. Same goes for a misfiring lineout. They will surely be sharper around the breakdown and under the high ball in the coming weeks. They need to be.
This tour will fly by. It's now just four weeks until the opening Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.
A lot of the players who fluffed their lines on Friday night will already be feeling a bit jittery. Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham were the only forwards to emerge with credit. Ben Earl had some moments, but it wasn't a compelling shift from the Saracens backrower. Maro Itoje, the tour captain, is already nailed-on for the Tests. Maro Itoje, the tour captain, is already nailed-on for the Tests. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Tommy Freeman was the pick of a backline which struggled for cohesion and fluency all evening.
The Lions will address what happened against Argentina, draw a line under it and switch their focus to matters in Perth.
The Western Force are next up on the schedule at Optus Stadium on Saturday. There is a long history of club sides raising their games when the Lions arrive in town, but the tourists shouldn't encounter the same resistance they met in Dublin.
The force finished ninth in the Super Rugby Pacifica tournament this year, winning four of their 14 outings. Tommy Freeman was the pick of a backline which struggled for cohesion and fluency all evening. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
It now appears that the Australian Super Rugby teams will have access to their Wallabies in the coming weeks, with Joe Schmidt previously stating that he would keep his internationals on ice until the Test series.
Schmidt is already dabbling in a bit of a pre-tour mind games. If the Force have the likes of Carlo Tizzano, Darcy Swain, Nic White and Ben Donaldson available, they will be a totally different proposition next weekend.
Farrell is likely to ring the changes, with a Leinster-heavy selection supplemented by Bath out-half Finn Russell.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Garry Ringrose and James Lowe are all likely to feature, with Russell pulling the strings at No10. Farrell is likely to ring the changes, with a Leinster-heavy selection supplemented by Bath out-half Finn Russell. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
A morale-restoring win in Perth will put all those mentioned above in pole position for the Test series.
Yes, plenty of the English personnel will get another chance to impress in the coming weeks but it already feels like the Irish frontliners are a strong position.
Farrell is likely to mix and match in week two ahead of big meetings with Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs.
The selection for the midweek game against the Brumbies in Canberra on July 5, just 12 days out from the first meeting with Schmidt's troops will be instructive.
The Brumbies were Australia's best peforming team in Super Rugby this season, finishing third in the standings behind the Crusaders and Chiefs, the Kiwi heavyweights.
Coached by Stephen Larkham, the Canberra outfit will be desperate to land a big Lions scalp. The hosts will be strong but Farrell is unlikely to go fully loaded for that one.
There is the small matter of a game against an Anzac Invitational side three days later in Adelaide. That representative team will feature former All Blacks and Wallabies who ply their trade overseas. Former All Blacks boss Ian Foster is overseeing the project and word on the street is the likes of Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga – amongst other big names – have already singed up to feature.
That game feels like a dry-run ahead of the first meeting with the Wallabies seven days later.
So, there are only a handful of opportunities left for players to press their case for inclusion. Many failed their first audition.
It doesn't get any easier from here. It's sink or swim time in Perth and there is already a sense that the Irish contingent are best equipped to get the Lions back on track.